Golf comedy series Stick isn’t only a feel-good series but goes all-in when it comes to featuring an authentic flavor of golf in front of the camera.

There’s just something about watching Stick that sets it apart from golf films such as Tin Cup or Happy Gilmore. Behind the scenes, series creator/showrunner Jason Keller was inspired by his father–a former Minnesota Twins and minor league pitcher–to develop a series about a golfer whose career ended prematurely. I’m sure there’s a universe where Keller creates a baseball series, but MLB licensing makes baseball movies or series an even bigger challenge.

Anyway, former pro golfer Pryce Cahill (Owen Wilson)–once the 18th-ranked golfer in the world–has seen both his marriage to Amber-Linn (Judy Greer) fall apart and if that weren’t enough, he also lost his job at an sporting goods store in Indiana. What happens next is Cahill mentoring a 17-year-old phenom, Santiago “Santi” Wheeler (Peter Dager). Through the course of ten episodes, we see the world that Keller and company have built up: one that focuses on both found family and relationships. It just comes packed with golf at the forefront.

The moment Pryce lays his eyes on Santi’s talents, you just know what he’s going to do next. He wants to take him out on the road. The problem? Santi is still legally a minor and that means getting his mother, Elena (Mariana Treviño), on board. But just getting her blessing isn’t enough and that’s where Pryce’s best friend and former caddy, Mitts (Marc Maron) enters the picture. Mitts provides his aging RV so that they can travel to various golf tournaments in America. They eventually meet Zero (Lilli Kay) along the way. Factor in Elena’s dogs and the RV quickly becomes very crowded.

Is Santi the next Tiger Woods? Time will tell. In any event, he becomes Pryce’s way of having a second chance in life. The right opportunity also has the potential to bring in endorsement dollars. But to even get to that point, one needs to be seen by the right people at the right time? Will Santi get that kind of opportunity? Watch Stick and find out.

One thing that I really loved about watching Stick is its authenticity. Wyndham Clark, Max Homa, Keegan Bradley, and Collin Morikawa are among the PGA superstars making an appearance in the comedy series. It really wouldn’t be a golf show if they didn’t feature some major cameos in this regard. On the broadcasting side of things, CBS’ lead golf broadcasters Jim Nantz and Trevor Immelman both make appearances in Stick. Again, the authenticity is really important and I cannot stress this enough.

Stick may be a comedy series but it isn’t just all about the jokes. Comedies honestly need moments to breathe and that’s why I appreciate how they find the right balance in tone. They make some room for drama, but not the hard drama that you might have seen in the likes of prestige HBO and AMC series some 15 years ago. No, we’re talking about the type of drama that feels appropriate enough to be make its way into a comedy series.

I touched on it during my interview with Jason Keller–publishing soon on another outlet–but it’s a complete coincidence that the season finale will premiere days before Happy Gilmore 2 gets released. We’ll be talking about golf into late July!

Stick puts the fun in the fairway in this feel-good comedy about redemption and second chances in life.

CREATOR/SHOWRUNNER: Jason Keller
DIRECTORS: Jonathan Dayton and Valerie Faris (101, 102), David Dobkin (103, 104), Jaffar Mahmood (105, 106), MJ Delaney (107, 108), John Hamburg (109, 110)
WRITERS: Jason Keller (101, 102, 103, 107), Christopher Moynihan (102, 109), Esti Giordani (104), Bill Callahan (105), Kate Fodor (106), Bryan Johnson (107), Jimy Shah (108), Ryan Hooper (110)
EXECUTIVE PRODUCERS: Jason Keller, Owen Wilson, Ben Silverman, Guymon Casady, Howard T. Owens, Rodney Ferrell, Drew Buckley, Lee Eisenberg, Natalie Sandy, Christopher Moynihan, Bill Callahan, Valerie Faris, Jonathan Dayton, Jaffar Mahmood
CAST: Owen Wilson, Peter Dager, Marc Maron, Mariana Treviño, Lilli Kay
GUEST STARRING: Judy Greer and Timothy Olyphant

Apple TV+ premieres the first 3 episodes of Stick on June 4, 2025. New episodes will premiere weekly on Wednesdays through July 23, 2025. Grade: 4/5

Please subscribe to Solzy on Buttondown and visit Dugout Dirt.